Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-23
THE SOCIAL PROBLEM.
MR.. MIREDITH's ADDRESS BEFORE
TIE RICHMOND COLLEGE ALUMNI.
Meeting Of the Board Of Trustees-Finan-
cial-work Of Professors and Stu
dents Degrees Conferred.


The trustees OF Richmond College met
at II O'Clock yesterday in the college
library. The following were found to be
present: Hon. II. X. Ellyson, president OF
the board; Rev. DR.. c. II. Ryland, secre-
tary and treasurer; Hon. James Alfred
Jones. John hurry, Esq, Colonel John II.
Guy, DR.. W. 4. Hatcher, Josiah Ryland.
ESQ, Colonel T. j. Evans, DR.. A. +. Dick
inson. DR.. j. William Jones. &. v.
Meredith, Esq, Judge Joseph Christian,
Colonel W. +. Tanner, DR.. George
=. steel. r. {. Williams, Esq, DR.. n.
Wythe Davis, DR.. w. W. Landrum.
| Judge W. II. Barksdale, OF Halifax; DIR. A.
| T.. owen, az Portsmouth,; Rev. X. II.
Acrce, Of Lynchbure Hon. II. Il. Pollard,
Of King and Queen; DR.. c. +. James. OF
Culpeper; Dr. T. 5. Dunaway, Of Ffede.
ricksburg; and Judge +. :. Guuter, Of
Accomack.
Letters Of regret at absence were read
from DR.. J. c. Long, of Grocer Seminary,
Pennsylvania; General J. &. Field, OF Al.
btmarle: DR.. /. y. Lake, Of Fauquier, and
DR.. :. W. Sydnor. OF NOttOway.
Various matters Of routine were SUBJ
mitted and acted upon.
FINANCIAL.
The financial report brought out the fact
that during the past year the endowment
bad been increased by S32 $40. of which
so. .0O0 was from Mr.. Bo.twick, OF New
York.
The college has slS0,3i9 in invested
funds. besides grounds and buildings; bur
the report urges that at least S3j0,000 OF
additional endowment should be added TO
the funds Of the college, and that efforts
should at once be put on foot TO socure
that end.
Students.
Tie Faculty REPORTED 1jl students en-
rolled during the past year ~ more than
during the year before. Of whom over 100
were loaTdeTs on the college premises
50 pCr cent Of the students were church
members Call but Of the resident students
we're chulch.members), and 80 were cdndl-
dates for The ministry.
The report speak, Of the meetings held
by the students In the college, at the aims
house, at the penitentlary, at the soldiers
Home. aud at several cbapes In the city,
and Of the decided religious atmosphere OF
the college.
Professor Harris, chairman OF the faculty.
has had among the students course of
Bible readings and has lectured once
week on the course, aud there have been
nine other "Biblical Lectures"
The general department Of the students
has been good. they have been generally
siudious, and the number Of degrees and
diplomas won this year Is larger than
usual.
DEGREES.
The faculty recommended eleven men
for the degree Of Bachelor OF Arts ana five
for that of Master OF Ants, and the Lodrd
conferred the degrees, as follows:
BACHELORS or ARTS.
Alert Morris Austin, Robert German Austin,
and Cary Albert Folk. OF Brownsville. Ienn.
Charles Morse Ilazen, Of Chesterfield, Va.
Albert Hudclns iill. Of Richmond.
joseph Baker Loving. Of Fluvanna.Na
JCseIh Page Massie Of Amherst Va.
Charles Dunbar Roy, Of Atlanta, Ga.
Nnburn Crawford scott, 81 DE Soto. La.
William Cornelius Tyree. OF Amherst Va.
Henry Wiley Williams, Of Smyth, Va.
MASTERS or ARTS.
Thomas Read Corr. Of Glou ester, Va.
Herbert Frank Cox. Of Richmond.
William Claibom Robinson, Of Sussex. Va.
Rcaumer Coleman Steanes. Of Pulaski, Va.
Robert Daniel Tucker. Of Powhatan, Va.
PROFESSOR or ENGLISH.
BY rule Of the board any professor who
may be elected TO a chair in the college
must be reelected at the close Of the first
year, and Professor John Pollard was
unanimously elected a. permanent prole>'
sOr Of English.
LUNCH.
The board were entertained al an elegant
lunch spread in the beautiful new Thomas
Hail, and spent the whole afternoon in the
careful consideration Of many matters Oi
c,cp interest and importance.
CAUTION As TO HONORARY DEGREES.
There was lengthy and able discussion
on the question OF cOnierriDg degrees, aud
certain rules were adopted looking 10
groaiG caution and care in the conforrinS
Of honorary degrees.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
The board meets at the college at II
o'clock This morning, when various matter,
of great importance which have been re-.
f,rred 10 committees will be presented and
acted upon.
Alumni Celebration.
Last night, despite the rain, fine audi.
cnce greeted the alumni and their chosen
orator. Hon. Samuel b. Witt, president OF
the Society Of Alumni, presided on thr
occasion and introduced the exercises in
hie usual graceful style.
After appropriate prayer by Rev. G.. W.
Oucke, Of Pennsylvania, Mr.. Witt intro.
duced o. orator Of the evening our bril-
liant and gifted brother, W. Il. Meredith,
Esq, Of Richmond.
TIE ORATOR.
Mr.. Meredith gracefully alluded to the
tfaf, In. Tor nd f.ilf
form, a, the tower Of the college, like the
spire Of the church, should always point
bcaNcnward.
He easily and appropriately introduced
a, hi, topic " The Social Problem"
THE TOPIC.
Mr.. Meredith yividy pictured the dan.
gers which 1c>et this problem. and insist
cd that 40 one remedy Will work com
plcte cure.
lie considered socialism, and ably and
earnestly refuted the theories OF th, pro.
duct Of idle dreamers.
With keen satire he reiuted the theory
that the state should run everything, and
showed that the real effort should be 10
ablidge rather than to extend the poTer OF
tho state.
lie showed a fatal defect Of socialism 10
be its utter destruction OF >cli.bep and
Self.rplance.
lie eloquently pictured the adherence
which Virginia has shown to the theory OF
the Socialist ever since the attempt made IN
colonial times TO run the colony on this
theory.
LABOR AND CAPITAL.
Mr.. Meredith next discussed the relation
Of labor and capital, and the importance OF
fairly meeting and adjusting the claims OF
each, 80 that they may be helpful the one
to the other, rather than antagonistic and
waTring."
lie suggested pIoft-sharing and " co.
operation" a. the true solution OF the
problem, and ably argued in favor OF thi.
theory. lie would have the state make il a
conditsn Of granting charters that the
" profit sharing" or cooperation" sys-
TEN be adopted. and he would have the
state and the city conduct its own enter
pri,os on the same system,
LABOR ASSOCIATIONS.
lie would promote labor associations,
but would free them from their errors. and
especially from the tyranny OF ostrlcising
tbe'laborers who decline to join them. He
would have social freedom as well a. reli-
Rious freedom. But he pointed out the
advantages OF labor organizations, and
would earnestly seek TO promote them. lie